Last Friday, a fire erupted in part of the Bryant Holiday market in Manhattan, New York.

The New York Fire Department was notified of the fire at around 9:30 AM. Bystanders reported that around 30 firefighters were at the fire, and the fire was under control half an hour later. Since the firefighters responded quickly, only four booths were affected, and no one was injured. The booths and the ice rink at the market were able to recover within a few hours. However, the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

First open to the public in 1934, Bryant Park underwent reconstruction in the late 20th century. As Michael Strauss, who works nearby, told the New York Times, Bryant Park used to be a “not-so-safe park,” but has now become a “fabulous” place. The holiday market began 23 years ago, and has gained popularity since. Today, around 4 million shoppers enjoy the 200 booths at the market, most of which are managed by small businesses. The holiday market is open through January 5th, 2025, from 11 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and from 10 AM to 8 PM on weekends.

Some people were concerned that last Friday’s fire was caused deliberately or that it might be related to another fire at the Herald Square Christmas villages from earlier this month. However, after investigation, the New York Fire Department stated that the cause of the fire from Friday morning was “cooking oil coming in contact with combustibles.” Joseph Castellano, a battalion fire chief in the Fire Department, said that he doesn’t “think [the cause of the two fires] are a concern at all,” and it was just two unrelated fires. Due to the serious damage in the Herald Square fire, which included one injured firefighter and several booths completely burned down, the cause of that fire is unknown.

Sources:

“Fire Erupts at Bryant Park Holiday Market” by Lola Fadulu (December 27, 2024) https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/nyregion/bryant-park-holiday-market-fire.html?searchResultPosition=5

Bryant Park Website https://bryantpark.org/activities/bank-of-america-winter-village-at-bryant-park

“Holiday Shopping, Up Close and Personal” by Aimee Ortiz (November 28, 2024) https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/business/holiday-markets-nyc.html

“Fire Erupts at Bryant Park Holiday Market in Manhattan” by Mark Prussin and John Dias (December 27, 2024) https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/bryant-park-holiday-market-fire-manhattan/#